Bears fall to No. 7

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville men’s basketball team is ranked seventh this week in the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Ratings that were released on Tuesday evening by the national office in Kansas City.

The Bears were third last week but Saturday’s 73-71 loss to Cumberlands resulted in the four-spot slide. The rating is the lowest for the Bears since the preseason poll, in which they were No. 9.

For their efforts, the Patriots rose three places and are now 22nd.

The Bears are now 18-3 on the season, with all three setbacks coming to Mid-South Conference teams by a total of eight points.

Lindsey Wilson (19-2), which holds a half-game advantage over the Bears in the league standings, replaced them in the top five at No. 4.

Columbia, Mo., took all 11 first-place votes and is still No. 1. The Cougars remained the only unbeaten team and are now 22-0. Lee (Tenn.) held onto its spot behind Columbia.

Lewis-Clark State moved up to third, with Lindsey fourth and Westmont (Calif.) up one to fifth.

John Brown (Ark.) is down two places to sixth. Pikeville is followed in the Top 10 by Cal State-San Marcos, Oklahoma Baptist and Emmanuel (Ga.), up four places to 10th.

Pikeville, Lindsey and Cumberlands are the only MSC teams in the Top 25 this week. Shawnee State fell out of the poll but is still getting votes, as is Georgetown College.

The Bears have one game this week, playing host to Bluefield College on Thursday night at the East Kentucky Expo Center. The game is the nightcap of a doubleheader, which begins at 6 p.m. The men are slated for an 8 p.m. opening tip.

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